UW-Madison Community Responds to Murder of Charlie Kirk
Kirk, the conservative movement leader and TPUSA founder, was assassinated on Wednesday
This is a developing story and will be updated periodically.
Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor:
“What happened to Charlie Kirk was a tragedy. It was wrong,” Mnookin said during a panel at the Reagan Institute. “Nobody should ever experience violence because of their beliefs and their words. The fact that it happened on a college campus is even a step worse — because … college campuses should be one of the places within society where ideas are explored and bump up against each other.” She continued, “It is a call to all of us to double down on the importance of what we are doing on our campuses — to encourage our students and our faculty to learn to disagree better, to learn to engage with one another.”
Mark Copelovitch, Political Science Professor:
Copelovitch has shared various posts on Bluesky related to Kirk’s assassination. He wrote, “Political violence is bad & should be condemned. And far right authoritarianism is bad & should be condemned.” He reposted numerous posts criticizing Kirk’s legacy, including one that called him a “destructive, hateful bigot.” Another called it “perverse” to order U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff. He also quoted a post that read, “This is class solidarity. In case you’re at all confused.” with a 👇 emoji.
Sami Schalk, Gender Studies Professor:
“Turning Point USA made a literal watch list of professors, primarily women, queer folks and people of color, and made us targets of political violence. I’ve received hate mail and harassment and death threats off and on for nearly a decade in part due to that man’s organization so 🤷🏽♀️”
Nathan Kalmoe, Executive Administrative Director for the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal:
Kalmoe has shared approximately 100 posts on Bluesky related to Kirk since his assassination. He called Kirk “racist, misogynist, & Christian nationalist,” saying, “His words & deeds incited violence against a fair, peaceful, free society. You don't kill him. You DO expel him from public life.” One post he reposted said, “i caught a 24 hour ban for saying a certain someone should ‘rest in piss’ and apparently hateful bigots who incite against vulnerable minorities are a specially protected class on bsky dot app.” He reposted another that called Kirk a “white supremacist” and another that called President Trump the “Fuhrer.”
He told The Madison Federalist, “I certainly don't support or condone Kirk's killing.” Kalmoe continued, “No one should support or condone his killing. And no one should celebrate his killing, even as people recognize the grave harms he caused in his life to the individuals he targeted and to our society as a whole.”
Marissa Kawehi Loving, Assistant Professor of Mathematics:
Loving reposted various Bluesky posts about Kirk, including one that called him a “bad faith, incendiary, anti-democracy white supremacist.” Another said, “when people with power say ‘violence is unacceptable’ - they mean ‘violence against us is unacceptable’, nothing more, nothing less. It foregoes that violence for those with power tends to come from greed, and violence against them tends to come from need.”
Various people, Badger Herald video interview:
An Instagram reel posted by the Badger Herald asked members of the UW-Madison community to reflect on Kirk’s murder. One man said he could “maybe do a dance in the street” or “drink some champagne” to celebrate. A woman said, “He should be happy that he got shot because somebody was protecting their Second Amendment right.” The Federalist could not independently confirm whether those in the video are students.
College Republicans of UW-Madison:
“Charlie Kirk has dedicated his life to changing the culture and helping young conservatives make a difference on college campuses. His work has injected life into the conservative movement and made free thinkers on campus feel that they are not alone.
The College Republicans at the University of Wisconsin-Madison ask our fellow students to please join us in praying for Charlie and his family. Political violence is never acceptable in any form.”
College Democrats of UW-Madison:
“We are disgusted to hear about the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Political violence has no role in democracy, and it must be denounced in the strongest terms possible.”
Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy:
“Open debate should be an antidote to political violence, not its cause. May Charlie Kirk’s family be consoled in their loss, and may our universities continue to promote and defend the free and open exchange of ideas.”
Elise Edwardsen, Sophomore:
"It hurts me greatly to know that a man of such noble character has left us today so tragically. Charlie embodied the art of reasoned discourse, listening as carefully as he spoke, and challenging ideas with such talent. His presence elevated every conversation, and his absence leaves a void in the spaces where thoughtful dialogue once thrived. Let us honor him with love, not hate, and with the fierce, aching awareness of what it truly means to be human... something that should unite us, not divide us. We must pray without ceasing, for there is never EVER an excuse for violence."
Hanna Anderson Gravelle, Sophomore:
“Charlie Kirk was a young father who spoke out about being conservative and Christian on college campuses, where that is especially shamed. He was truly brave and showed us young conservatives how to stand up in such a polarized environment. My heart goes out to families affected by political violence on either side.”
Anonymous Graduate Student:
“Charlie Kirk’s conversations on campuses like the one he had at the University of Wisconsin-Madison almost a year ago truly embody the mission, vision, and values of higher education: creating learning environments where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to discuss and analyze complex problems, policies, and ideas. Charlie’s voice served as a bridge of hope at a time when many conservative students and faculty, including myself, felt silenced, ostracized, and alone. He often reminded us that when people with opposing beliefs are not allowed to engage in open dialogue, the result is greater polarization, isolation, and violence, like the tragedy that occurred on September 10th at Utah Valley University. Charlie’s courage and unwavering commitment to free speech created a platform that inspired millions of students across the political spectrum to critically examine, defend, and refine their beliefs. His debates mobilized diversity of thought on campuses, helping liberals and conservatives alike better understand one another’s perspectives. That kind of engagement is not only valuable, it is essential for shaping future leaders capable of crafting policies that serve all Americans. I hope that, in the wake of this tragedy, we can come together to carry forward Charlie Kirk’s legacy on college campuses and throughout the United States for generations to come.”
Anonymous Graduate Student:
“Many believe Charlie Kirk was responsible for the ills of our time. In truth, he was not the cause, but the symptom of modern America’s sickness. Obama’s liberalism utterly failed America’s youth—sedating them with empty promises, draining their coffers, and stealing their future. When young Americans finally cried out for change, Charlie was among the first to answer. And so, the death of one man will not be the death of Charlie—for he will return, again and again, until the sickness is cured.”